S O M E
L E A D V I L L E
C O L O R A D O
A R E A
H I S T O R Y
GOLD!!! Those who had headed west to California had spread
the word and others followed behind. Some to flim-flam
the gullible while making a quick buck by selling maps, or
salting mines. (That term came from placing a few pieces
of gold in a mine shaft usually with a shotgun, "like salting vegetables -
just enough to give a good taste").
Others stopped before reaching California to look over the
territory, because they ran out of money, or because they were just
plain tired. The trip was not an easy one and many who tried
gave up before reaching their goals. Others who had not had luck
in California remembered about tales of gold in the Rocky Mountains
and returned to see if they would have any luck there
At this time, the eastern section of what was to become the State
of Colorado, was Kansas Territory, the northeastern corner was
part of Nebraska, and the rest (except for a narrow slice along
the southern border that in 1850 became New Mexico Territory) was
a part of Utah.
In 1857 reports of gold finds in the central Rockies lead to
excited rumors about the area. The cry of "Pike's Peak or Bust"
was heard throughout the Kansas Territory and eastward. The country
had been through a financial depression and the thought of being
able to make money made restless people eager to move on west.
As many as 100,000 men may have started for the gold
fields in 1859, but it is believed that only about 40,000
made it to their destination. Not many stayed, some made
it big, and became industrial leaders. Some made a living and
stayed in Colorado to help shape its future. This page is dedicated
to one of the men who stayed and became recognized as a
Colorado pioneer.
Joseph H. Wells was born in Bedford, England, 30 January
1842. He came to the United States, at the age of 11,
stopping for a short time in New York. He moved west to
Kansas in 1854 and remained there until 1860. In the
fall of 1860, he arrived in California Gulch (which
was later to become part of Leadville Colorado) with his brother Thomas S. Wells. In 1862
he left to serve in the Civil War, returning in 1866;
and was engaged in placer mining and prospecting. He had
large interests in several of the leading mines in the
vacinity of Leadville. Mr. Wells was elected Clerk and
Recorder of Lake County, Colorado in 1875, 1877, and
1880. In 1882 he moved to his ranch at Villa Grove,
Saguache County, Colorado to raise cattle and horses.
Joseph H. Wells was my great-grandfather.
While he was living in the Leadville he knew people who just scraped by, making a living by prospecting or as general laborers, as well as those people who were to become famous. Here are some of the people he knew you may have heard of.
Meet some newsworthy residents
Yes, there really was an Unsinkable Molly BrownH.A.W. Tabor built an empire with silver
Baby Doe Tabor was a beautiful women when Horace Tabor met her
Other residents of the Area
Some Early Leadville - Lake County area history
The End of a Dream. Current pictures of the Printerboy Mine.
Colorado Homepage Interesting facts about the state.
The World of Archaeology has some great Colorado finds.
The Furkids Western Boomer J. Foxworthy's version of traveling to the gold fields of Colorado.
Or you may want to
This page last updated 2 July 2000
sjmayer@mindspring.com
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